Thanks for the great info, and I love the username! When were the cappuccino mcallisters released? I would jump on them if they ever came out with them again.

I believe cappuccino was a web gem in the March/April time frame of this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjr4884

What an amazing collection right there.... I could live off those.

I wish the strands came out in cappucino, i LOVE the color of my brown cordovans however i think they really only shine in natural sunlight. if they were a shade or so lighter, they wouldn't look so muted in fair lighting.....

Out of the box, the cappuccino and the walnut cordovan were very similar in color; at the store and at home in overhead, indoor lighting.

I used the dark brown cordovan creme from AE on the cappuccino and Saphir neutral cordovan creme on the walnut cordovan to help differentiate the two colors in daylight and bright lights... but if the lighting is much softer, cappuccino and walnut cordovan seem very similar.

I also fit the 8 last well, and the 2 is just way too narrow in comparison. it's just a very odd last that only fits particular feet. You can't force yourself into it, unfortunately.
I wish AE would update the last information on their website - it's quite out of date, especially with the new lasts coming out now (new 6, for example). Also, they could do with better descriptions. Nowhere do they say, for instance, that the 2 is narrow, which it clearly is: "Elongated toe with a slightly higher instep. Very similar to the 108 last." I find this statement patently untrue and highly misleading. In fact, they give the impression that the 5 is narrower than the 2. This is my biggest peeve with their website. I don't see how they have let this go for so long.

this is some serious constructive criticism. you should bump this up to the higher powers at ae.

I believe cappuccino was a web gem in the March/April time frame of this year.

Out of the box, the cappuccino and the walnut cordovan were very similar in color; at the store and at home in overhead, indoor lighting.

I used the dark brown cordovan creme from AE on the cappuccino and Saphir neutral cordovan creme on the walnut cordovan to help differentiate the two colors in daylight and bright lights... but if the lighting is much softer, cappuccino and walnut cordovan seem very similar.

Thanks man. Your picture just saved both me and my SA a metric crap-ton of time. Looks like the brown shell ones will be fine for what I'm going after, which is a Leeds (or possibly Dundee) with a poron insole.

AE has been adding more shell colors to various shoes, but the Leeds hasn't been one of them yet. Hoping they'd add more shell options and a brown Chromexcel (all-weather) option at some point...

I just bought a pair of Hinsdales (wingtip derby) at Nordstrom Rack in 13D. They are on the 8 last. The left foot fits snuggly but well and the right is pinching my pinky toe. My only other pair of AEs I own are the Sanfords (cap toe derby) in 13D. They are on the 7 last, and they fit like a DREAM. So either the last doesn't work for me or these are mislabeled C widths.

I know it is possible to widen shoes just a tad, which is really all these need. Is it worth it to try, or should I return them?

I just received a pair of Del Rays in 13D, which are also the 8 last, and they fit like a dream as well. I'm chalking up the others to an ill fit or possible Nordstrom Rack selling seconds.

not to keep spamming the thread...but the shoes I had that were a tad too tight are now fitting pretty well. I just left shoe trees in them for 24h and it seemed to stretch them out to the point where there is no more stretching.

I also fit the 8 last well, and the 2 is just way too narrow in comparison. it's just a very odd last that only fits particular feet. You can't force yourself into it, unfortunately.
I wish AE would update the last information on their website - it's quite out of date, especially with the new lasts coming out now (new 6, for example). Also, they could do with better descriptions. Nowhere do they say, for instance, that the 2 is narrow, which it clearly is: "Elongated toe with a slightly higher instep. Very similar to the 108 last." I find this statement patently untrue and highly misleading. In fact, they give the impression that the 5 is narrower than the 2. This is my biggest peeve with their website. I don't see how they have let this go for so long.

any idea which (current and former) AE models are built on the much-loved 8 last? so far, i'm aware of:

Here is a list I got somewhere a little while back showing a lot of the AE models and the lasts. It does not include any of the newer models from the past few months. No guaranty on accuracy, I am just passing the list along.

Does anyone own a pair of brown shell shoes and cappuccino shell shoes? I'm trying to get a comparison of the 2, attempting to find how dark the brown shell one are. Additionally, trying to figure out the suitability of Dundees for a conservative business casual environment - how chukkas appear with dress slacks for use in a professional services firm...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcass

Thanks man. Your picture just saved both me and my SA a metric crap-ton of time. Looks like the brown shell ones will be fine for what I'm going after, which is a Leeds (or possibly Dundee) with a poron insole.

AE has been adding more shell colors to various shoes, but the Leeds hasn't been one of them yet. Hoping they'd add more shell options and a brown Chromexcel (all-weather) option at some point...

The Leeds and Dundee both are perfect for what you are looking for. A lot depends on the vertical market you are working in and where in that market but overall they both fit the bill in my experience. I started out with black Leeds then burgundy shell Leeds, if I could do it over again I would have purchased the black shell Leeds instead of calf. #8 is pretty universal in that it can be paired with most slacks and is a good place to start. My personal preference is to have my shoes darker than my slacks and because I also own a lot of shoes and boots in various shades of brown find myself purchase lighter shades of slacks when needing new ones. Now that I have I am on the inside looking out I can tell you that your going to stand above your peers, who are most likely wearing black square toed bicycle shoes. I still do some consulting on the side which is where my shoe money comes from, good luck and I wish you much success.